WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.400 If you would open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 18, Matthew 18 is about life in the 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:15.080 kingdom, specifically relational life in the kingdom, life between disciples, how followers 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:17.320 of Jesus are to relate with each other. 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:24.539 And last week, Billy just did a great job in helping us to see that Jesus compels us 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:31.280 to receive one another, to love each other, little ones, humble ones, not to despise each 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:31.519 other. 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:33.920 And so we're not to sin against each other. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:41.700 And this morning, Jesus is going to show us that when we do sin against each other, what 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:42.359 we should do. 00:00:42.739 --> 00:00:43.899 He's got a plan. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:50.759 Next week, Matt Sear's going to preach on what happens when a brother or sister in Christ 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.140 keeps sinning against you. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:01:01.200 And so Matthew 18 is about the relational life of disciples in the kingdom, how to deal 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:02.200 with each other's sin. 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:07.219 Tell me this. 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:17.500 What happens if you had someone from our church over, over for dinner or something, and it became 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:19.599 evident that when they left, they stole something? 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.019 What do you do? 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:26.179 It's clear, thou shalt not steal. 00:01:26.899 --> 00:01:29.259 Let the thief steal no longer. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.179 What do you do? 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:40.000 Or what happens if you're in a life group and one of the people in the life group who are 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.959 in there with you, they lie to your face about something. 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:47.619 And it's just clear, you shall not bear false witness. 00:01:47.919 --> 00:01:48.919 Put away falsehood. 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:51.259 Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor. 00:01:51.639 --> 00:01:53.119 It's clear it's sin. 00:01:53.339 --> 00:01:54.179 What do you do? 00:01:56.459 --> 00:02:01.759 Or what happens if another Christian from our church, you're serving on this person on a 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:10.340 ministry team, and for no apparent reason, this person just blows up in anger and cusses you out? 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:15.759 The Bible's clear. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:17.140 Be angry and do not sin. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:17.860 What do you do? 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:24.800 What if at the baptism today, you hear somebody's been spreading rumors about you? 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.860 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. 00:02:28.940 --> 00:02:31.540 Only such for building up as fits the occasion. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:32.520 Know it's wrong. 00:02:33.160 --> 00:02:34.140 So what do you do? 00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:38.860 Well, maybe one of these examples hits home. 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:40.800 Maybe none of them hits home. 00:02:40.880 --> 00:02:46.260 But you know what it's like to be sinned against by another brother or sister in Christ. 00:02:46.259 --> 00:02:55.560 What should you do when another brother or sister in Christ, at least professing brother or sister in Christ, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.259 what do you do when they sin against you? 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:01.639 Should you just leave the church? 00:03:03.780 --> 00:03:07.299 Should you speed dial the pastor and have him come in and make all things right? 00:03:09.079 --> 00:03:11.500 Should you avoid that person altogether? 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:13.340 Just make sure he's on the other side of the building? 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:24.620 Maybe you're the type of person who'll pull the one who sinned against you and you will just give them a good old tongue lashing. 00:03:24.620 --> 00:03:29.900 What are you going to do? 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:33.680 Chances are it's going to happen. 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:36.860 What does Jesus call you to do? 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:45.520 In Matthew 18, 15 through 20, Jesus speaks right to the issue. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:52.560 If your brother sins against you, do this. 00:03:53.760 --> 00:03:54.800 Thanks be to God. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:58.680 Our King and Savior speaks to it. 00:03:59.540 --> 00:04:02.500 So would you turn there now, and I'm just going to read this through. 00:04:03.980 --> 00:04:05.820 Chapter 18, 15 through 20. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:11.680 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.659 If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:23.339 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.680 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:33.680 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:40.600 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:47.980 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:54.280 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:05:06.619 As a disciple of Jesus Christ, when you're sinned against by another disciple of Jesus Christ, what do you do? 00:05:09.059 --> 00:05:24.139 What Jesus is going to do here is show us that this sinning against you is actually your opportunity to advance the kingdom of grace. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:35.139 This sin against you is an opportunity for you to gain back a brother or sister who may be straying. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:46.479 The goal with what Jesus says here is to go and gain your sinning brother or sister. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:49.919 If we're sinned against, we don't sin back. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:53.460 We grace back. 00:05:54.280 --> 00:05:58.780 We go after the one who sinned against us. 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:04.700 If we have a brother or sister who's going astray and they sin against us, 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:13.819 we have been put onto God's search and restoration mission to regain our brother. 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:20.439 And what this means is a radical shift of thinking for us. 00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:26.360 Because if you're like me, when you're sinned against, you're probably not thinking about the kingdom. 00:06:29.159 --> 00:06:31.539 So what do you do when you're sinned against? 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:33.860 Three things, and we're going to pull this from the text. 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:35.319 Remember who you are. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:37.420 Stick to the plan. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:39.480 Trust in God's grace. 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:44.420 So three realities you must lay hold of when you are sinned against. 00:06:44.900 --> 00:06:46.080 Remember who you are. 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:47.600 You're a disciple of Jesus. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.420 You're no longer your own. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.040 Second, stick to the plan. 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:53.640 And Jesus gives us a plan. 00:06:54.340 --> 00:06:56.759 And third, trust in his grace. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.280 This is kind of a scary thing what Jesus is going to tell us about here. 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:05.600 It involves confrontation, which can be a little intimidating. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:13.700 And so at the end of this passage, Jesus says, I've got grace to put courage in your heart for this. 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:19.220 So let's look at first this. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.740 You've got to remember who you are. 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:24.020 In Matthew 18, 15, we read, 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:33.680 If your brother sins against you, and that you is an individual you, like you in particular, like you Mike, you. 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:37.159 If your brother sins against you. 00:07:37.159 --> 00:07:44.979 And how we understand, need to understand that you is, this you is a disciple of Jesus Christ. 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:54.120 And so if we just kind of step back into Matthew chapter 16, and if you look at verse 24, Jesus says, 00:07:54.360 --> 00:08:02.360 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:03.580 That's the you. 00:08:04.200 --> 00:08:05.500 A disciple of Jesus. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.420 One who is denying themselves. 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.720 One who is disassociating oneself from my agenda. 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:16.560 So here's what this means for us. 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:21.520 When we get sinned against, we're not on my agenda. 00:08:21.960 --> 00:08:25.240 We're on Jesus' agenda. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.220 We are his disciples. 00:08:30.020 --> 00:08:32.180 You are not your own. 00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:40.579 So this plan Jesus has for us, it's a plan for his disciples to walk through. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:43.859 You've got to remember who you are. 00:08:43.959 --> 00:08:47.959 When you're sinned against, the first thing that should come to your mind will maybe be the second thing. 00:08:49.099 --> 00:08:50.199 I'm not my own. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:52.919 I belong to Jesus. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.219 I'm his follower. 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.019 I'm going to live by his kingdom rules. 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.379 I'm going to live for his kingdom purposes. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:02.659 I'm going to do what he says. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:05.340 I'm not going to live for my rules. 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:07.220 I'm not going to live for my purposes. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.939 I'm going to live for him and the good of his people. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:22.179 And what we're going to find out is when you're sinned against, it's actually an opportunity for Jesus to advance his kingdom. 00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:30.539 Now in light of this question of remembering who you are, let me just ask you a quick question up front. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:40.519 What is the typical way you react when you're sinned against or when you perceive you've been sinned against? 00:09:40.739 --> 00:09:44.159 How do you typically react to something like that? 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:45.959 Do you write it off? 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:48.440 Do you ignore it? 00:09:49.040 --> 00:09:50.940 Do you pack it? 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:55.040 Do you give the silent treatment? 00:09:56.180 --> 00:09:57.540 Do you punch back? 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:59.960 Are you the kind that when you're punched, you punch back? 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:04.519 Do you gossip to others about it? 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:07.080 So and so did this to me. 00:10:08.540 --> 00:10:10.980 Do you call the pastor to deal with it? 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.500 Do you tweet about it? 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:13.519 Do you tweet about it? 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:15.500 Do you tweet about it? 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.500 Do you tweet about it? 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:20.559 It's not the way we handle these things anymore. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:23.500 That's not who we are anymore. 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:31.919 As disciples of Jesus Christ, we respond to being sinned against in a very different way. 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:35.139 We are on God's agenda. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:43.879 We're going to respond for the glory of Jesus because you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:51.539 We've looked at who you are. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:52.879 You've got to remember who you are. 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:56.659 When you're sinned against, the first thing that needs to happen is saying something like, 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:01.679 okay, Lord Jesus, no matter how much I want to respond in my flesh right now, 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:08.059 I am going to walk through a process for the glory of your name and the good of my brother. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:11.599 So let's look at that process. 00:11:13.119 --> 00:11:14.059 It's a plan. 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:21.859 Jesus has a plan for you when you're sinned against and you need to stick to his plan. 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:34.740 In verses 15 through 17, Jesus lays out a plan that is a gradual step-by-step way to respond to the one who has sinned against you. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.440 And it's a search and rescue mission. 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:40.960 Just look up a few verses before this. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.820 In verse 12, we read this. 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.340 Jesus says, what do you think? 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:57.400 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.379 And he's talking about his disciple. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:09.500 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:14.439 So it's not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should go astray. 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:21.740 And all of a sudden, Jesus lays out a plan of how to respond to someone who sinned against you, who's going astray. 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:27.320 We read in that little account. 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:38.460 That this shepherd of the ninety-nine go in search of the one that went astray. 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:41.480 We have a God that goes. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:45.299 We have a God that goes after the straying sheep. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.659 And we all know what that's like. 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:49.679 Because we were straying sheep. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:13:00.599 But what I'm telling you this is, there's a linkage between 12, verses 12 through 14, to what's happening here in 15 through 17. 00:13:00.979 --> 00:13:04.299 There's a go in verse 12, and there's a go in verse 15. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.819 And we're going to go on behalf of our king. 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:12.140 This plan is a search and rescue operation. 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:17.320 It's designed to seek sheep who've gone astray and return them back to the safety of the flock. 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:24.600 Our king and shepherd is wanting to unite his people in peace. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:33.899 And so there are four steps to design here to gain back a brother or sister who has sinned. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:38.759 And so what you need to know from the outset is this is a plan of restoration. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:45.519 This is a plan of redemption, of seeking and bringing back. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:48.960 Confrontation is involved. 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.399 But it's loving confrontation. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.079 It's a restorative confrontation. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:14:00.439 So what we're going to do here is we're going to walk through each step of the way. 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:04.620 And then I'm going to show you some wonderful things that all these steps have in common. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.120 The first step is this. 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:12.840 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:16.399 That word brother is important. 00:14:17.280 --> 00:14:22.720 Jesus is saying when this professing Christian sins against him, think of him as family. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:26.780 Think of him as part of God's family. 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:30.180 Have you heard the phrase, blood is thicker than water? 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:36.680 It's an expression that talks about kind of family commitments are more important than friend commitments. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:42.500 Well, in the family of God, there is a blood that is thicker than water. 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:46.460 We are a family united together by the blood of Jesus. 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:52.419 You're my brother and you're my sister because of the blood of Jesus. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.779 We're a blood-bought family. 00:14:55.779 --> 00:15:07.100 So if this is a professing Christian, we start by thinking, oh, he is a blood-bought brother who has sinned against me. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.039 It will temper your heart. 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:17.539 If he is truly God's own, that should temper your heart. 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:26.339 If your brother sins against you, that word sin is really important. 00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:32.620 Your brother, if your brother sins against you, that word sin, it means to miss the mark. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:42.259 This past summer, all across the nation and the world, there were camps that had part of their camps archery ranges. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:54.560 And you would have little kids lining up, pulling back on bows, and launching arrows about 20 yards to hit one of those circular kind of targets that have all those different colors on them. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:57.859 And in the middle of the target is the bullseye. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.339 And that is what you're aiming for. 00:16:00.859 --> 00:16:08.039 Biblically speaking, when you sin, you are missing the bullseye of God's revealed will. 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:15.379 God's word shows us his will of what he wants for us. 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:24.639 And so when we somehow miss that mark by either committing sin or omitting sin, we've sinned. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:32.899 And so what Jesus is saying here is if your blood-bought brother really does sin against you, 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:40.819 and your best tool for knowing of whether or not a brother has sinned against you is this book. 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:50.939 It's asking the question, is what I just experienced, is this really grievous in God's sight, or did I just have my feathers ruffled? 00:16:53.240 --> 00:17:01.120 And so from the outset, Jesus is saying, if your brother actually sins against you, go to him. 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:05.079 One more piece here. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.559 If your brother is sinning, he is straying. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:13.099 If he's sinning, he's straying. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:17.220 It changes the way that you will see the situation. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.639 He's sinning against his God. 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:25.379 And we're told Jesus says, go. 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.400 If your brother sins against you, go. 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:35.580 And just a word of wisdom here, don't go through a text. 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:39.080 Don't go to your brother by texting him or her. 00:17:39.780 --> 00:17:43.920 Don't go to your brother on Facebook in order to confront them for their sin. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.720 Don't send them an email. 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.700 Go to them in person. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:53.580 When your brother sins against you, go to them. 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:57.700 And notice, Jesus tells us what to do when we go to them. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:02.220 Go and tell him his fault. 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:05.620 Literally, rebuke him. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.559 Reprove him. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:11.000 What that means is to point out the wrong. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:22.180 And what that simply means is to go to your brother and get specific and concrete with how your brother has sinned against you. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:28.759 You're going to show him or her why what he did or she did was wrong. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.680 And you need your Bible for that. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:38.500 In 2 Timothy 3.16, there's this great verse about God's word. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:42.039 All of scripture is breathed out by God. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:49.940 Profitable for teaching and rebuking. 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.320 Reproving. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.860 Pointing out a wrong. 00:18:54.859 --> 00:19:10.359 This book not only helps us understand if we're overreacting to something, but it's going to help our brother or sister that we go to help them to see that what they've done is grievous in God's sight. 00:19:15.199 --> 00:19:18.500 So you go to your brother to tell him how he sinned. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:21.059 And what that looks like is simply this. 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:29.079 You know, Jim, when you said this about me, that was hurtful. 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:35.940 But I just want to point you to this verse in the Bible that it was grievous to God as well. 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:41.759 And so you go to your brother, go to your sister with your Bible open. 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:45.440 And with a loving rebuke on your lips. 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.879 That's what Jesus is calling us to hear. 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:54.960 Now, there's always a good step of when you go to your brother, you kind of ask something like this for us. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.440 Is it true that you said this about me? 00:19:57.780 --> 00:20:00.380 Or is it true that you did this whatever? 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:06.420 And when they say yes, that gives you the opportunity to open up your Bible. 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:14.660 And so what we're looking to do here is address sin in a brother and do so with God's word. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:17.460 So that God will convict our brother. 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:26.580 And notice, not only does he tell us what to say, he tells us we should go alone. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.700 Between you and him alone, go and tell him his fault. 00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:32.940 Between you and him alone. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:36.320 Why is Jesus telling us to go alone? 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:45.599 Well, Jesus in his wisdom, he wants to limit the exposure of someone's sin to a minimum number of people. 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:55.460 And so basically what's going on here is it's not making something more difficult and complicated than it needs to be. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:21:03.840 Jesus is wanting his people to deal with sin in each other's lives in kind of small and private conversations. 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:06.900 Just necessary people at first. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:10.660 And so that's why he tells you to go to your brother or sister by yourself. 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.059 Go to them. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.660 Is that kind of scary? 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.140 It's kind of scary. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:23.620 But if you're loving your brother, if you're loving your sister, and if they're straying, this is rescue mission. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.300 This is love. 00:21:25.780 --> 00:21:26.520 This is kindness. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.259 What should you be praying for as you go? 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.580 If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:43.000 When you go to your brother, you're praying. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:47.619 You're praying things like, oh God, help me to be humble in bringing this to my brother. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:51.119 God, would you just light up your word for my brother. 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:54.460 God, would you help him to listen and take this to heart. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:22:00.240 God, would you use this to bring back to yourself a straying brother or sister. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:03.119 We're all on God's agenda right there. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:33.099 God, would you like to see you? 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:36.199 At that point, you have gained your brother. 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:41.279 Because if they're seeing their sin rightly, they're going to want to repent. 00:22:41.459 --> 00:22:46.379 They're going to ask forgiveness, not of just you, but of God, of whom he or she has sinned against. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.919 So you've got to stick to the plan. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:58.659 If there's a brother or sister who's sinned against you, and you're clear of that with God's word, go to him. 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.599 Go to her. 00:22:59.959 --> 00:23:01.919 Show them their fault with God's word. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:06.460 You're trusting that God is going to use this to help you gain them. 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:09.960 Now the question comes, what happens if they don't listen? 00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:14.480 What happens if you say, hey, is it true that you said this about me? 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.480 And they're like, whatever. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.860 They're not listening. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:22.399 Well, that brings us to step two of the plan. 00:23:22.719 --> 00:23:24.619 And we've got to stick to the plan. 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.619 Look at verse 16. 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:41.619 But if he does not listen to your first attempt, take one or two others along with you that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:48.379 If he doesn't listen to you the first time, you are to go back a second time. 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:54.480 And you're going to go back a second time with Bible in hand, Bible open, and loving rebuke on your lips. 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:58.060 But this time, you're going to bring one or two other people with you. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.080 And the question is, why? 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:03.139 Why bring one or two other people with us? 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:09.039 Jesus says that every charge may be established by the evidence of one or two witnesses. 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:14.980 This was part of the legal practice of the Jewish people in Deuteronomy 19.15. 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:19.079 It was to validate a criminal charge in kind of a court of law. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:24.019 But what Jesus is talking about here in Matthew 18 is not a court of law. 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.179 What he's talking about is life in the family. 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.939 Life in the kingdom. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:32.360 So we're not looking for legal conviction of a criminal event here. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:38.920 We're looking for the Holy Spirit conviction of a brother to bring him back into the fold. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:48.340 The witnesses that Jesus is referring to here aren't necessarily witnesses to the initial sin. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:52.880 It's not like they were there watching this thing happen when you were sinned against. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:59.000 Now these two people are people that you have brought along to bear witness to the second step. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:01.200 To you going to your brother. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:03.460 To you opening up your Bible. 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:05.560 To you loving them, rebuking them. 00:25:05.800 --> 00:25:07.740 And asking them to respond. 00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:11.040 They're witnesses of the second step. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:15.260 And so what you're sensing here, I hope, is that Jesus is this plan. 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.780 It's a redemptive plan. 00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:17.820 It's a restorative plan. 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.320 And it is orderly. 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:22.259 There are steps to take at the right time. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:28.799 Now the question that I think we need to ask is, well, how does that work out here at Christ the King Church? 00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:30.639 What does this look like? 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:39.299 What happens if you go to a brother or sister and you show them their fault or try to and they're not listening? 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.339 What do you do? 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.599 Well, you go back to them again. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:48.599 And you carefully bring one or two people to come with you. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:54.480 The people that you ask to come with you, this is not an assault team on this person. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:58.639 You're not looking for kind of seal team six here to go emblazen. 00:25:59.459 --> 00:26:01.159 This is a restoration team. 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:02.959 This is a rescue team. 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:08.299 And so you're looking for people who want the restoration of someone else. 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:11.899 And so let's just say that someone sins against you. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.079 You've gone to them once. 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.399 They were resistant. 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.460 You go to them again. 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.779 A good person. 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:21.379 If you're in a life group, your life group leader would be a great choice to bring with you. 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.980 Bring them with you. 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.240 Bring the life group leader. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.839 Bring the wife of the life group leader. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:32.139 Bring them with you to go to this person and show them their fault. 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:39.940 Well, you may be saying, well, what happens if the person who has sinned against me is my life group leader? 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:45.320 Bring someone from the life group. 00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:48.060 Go to them. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:48.940 Go to them. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.620 Show them their fault. 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:51.500 Together. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:51.579 Together. 00:26:54.619 --> 00:27:03.259 The principle here is to limit the exposure of someone's sin while at the same time kind of intensifying the seriousness of it. 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:07.119 And so we're taking another step here. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:10.140 Jesus is saying, let's take this one more step public. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:12.900 Let's bring one or two more people in here. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:16.519 And what happens is it intensifies the seriousness of the sin. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:23.460 The goal, of course, is redemptive, restorative. 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:29.700 Let's say that you bring two people and you go to a person and they still don't listen. 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.579 Now what do you do? 00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:35.000 Well, in verse 17, Jesus tells what to do at that point. 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:41.319 He says, if he refuses to listen to them, the them is the two or three of you. 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:50.700 And so the witnesses that came with you were actually speaking to the one and appealing to them to recognize their sin. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:55.700 But if he refuses the two or three, you are to tell it to the church. 00:27:57.939 --> 00:28:04.000 Now, this is a significant step in this process because up to this point, it's been rather informal, right? 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.059 Limited people knowing. 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:12.200 But as soon as you take this step of going to the church, it moves from informal to formal. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:15.259 More people know and this is becoming less private. 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:17.019 It's becoming more serious. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:21.539 And it's important to understand what Jesus means by the church here. 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:26.000 Generally speaking, Jesus was referring to the gathering of his disciples. 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:31.339 It's the word church is the word ekklesia. 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.539 Ekklesia. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:40.199 And in the Old Testament, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, ekklesia was used for just generally of gatherings of people. 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:48.000 And what you need to remember historically is that Jesus is speaking at a time before the actual birth of the church. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:58.059 This would be like late in the third trimester, right before the birth of the church. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:00.179 Pentecost is right around the corner. 00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:07.319 And so Jesus is talking about a local gathering of his disciples. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.659 And he doesn't give us much more than that. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.199 But the principle here is this. 00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:18.740 That if you've gone once and then twice to a brother and they have not responded, now you go to the church. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:21.059 The gathering of God's people. 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:27.519 What's interesting about this passage is there's absolutely no reference to church leadership here. 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:30.339 There's no appeal to an elder. 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.859 There's nothing like that. 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:34.980 It has to do with when this was written. 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:37.359 But it also has to do with the emphasis. 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:45.359 Jesus is wanting individual Christians to know and take responsibility for what each must do when they're sinned against. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:50.719 Today for us, this is what this means. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:59.620 There comes a time when you hit stage three, step three, to go to the church. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:03.900 And what I am suggesting is for us that means going to the church's leadership team. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:06.940 So going to the pastors and elders of our church. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:14.000 So it's this third step to tell it to the church. 00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:19.799 And the it, of course, is the sin and the steps that have taken and who's been involved. 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:27.640 So that now the leadership team of the church can step in and now play a role in the restoration of a brother. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:35.860 Jesus doesn't tell us what church action should really look like here. 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:39.379 But for us as a church, here's what that would look like. 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:42.979 Let's say a brother or sister has been sinned against. 00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:46.159 That brother or sister takes the steps required by Jesus. 00:30:46.479 --> 00:30:48.479 They come to one of the elders. 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:51.219 That elder brings it to the leadership team. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:57.119 And that leadership team is now poised to take action for the good of this person sinning. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:05.299 And our leadership team would send at least two men to that person to go with their Bibles open, 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:09.379 with a loving rebuke on their tongue to show them their fault. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:14.799 Those two elders also would say, this is the process that we've gone through this far. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:18.719 This person that you've sinned against took this step and then they took this step. 00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:20.379 And that's now why we're here. 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:27.640 And it would be very appropriate for one of the elders at that meeting to say something like this. 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:33.680 You do realize that if you don't listen to what we're saying here, 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:41.860 that there is a step of discipline that will follow that will put you out of the church. 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.260 It's a warning. 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:52.879 So what Jesus is telling us here is that there are steps to take in restoring a brother who has sinned, 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:55.640 who is straying, to bring them back into the church, 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:59.420 and has incrementally getting more intense and more people involved. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:07.039 If you were to come to me and you said something like, 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:09.779 you know, Pastor Mike, so and so, 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:12.960 they were just saying these nasty things about me on Facebook. 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.819 Do you know what I would ask you? 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:18.440 I would ask you this. 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.859 Well, have you gone to them yourself? 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.160 Have you met with them? 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.900 Oh, you haven't. 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.420 That's what Jesus would have you do. 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.759 So take that step. 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:30.180 If they don't listen, take a couple people with you. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:32.200 If they don't listen then, then come back. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.680 We'll talk. 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:34.000 We'll take the next step at that point. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:41.599 So let's say the church, two elders from the church go to the brother, 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:44.480 and that brother doesn't listen. 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.400 Then what? 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:49.240 Well, that's the second half of verse 17. 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:56.339 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, 00:32:57.339 --> 00:33:01.500 let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:04.859 So all through here, we're sticking to the plan, right? 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:07.339 We're taking one step at a time. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:09.700 We're trusting that these are Jesus' words, 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.900 and we're going to follow them. 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:16.280 And so at this point, if representatives from the leadership team go 00:33:16.280 --> 00:33:22.560 and they don't respond, well, now this brother is to us a Gentile 00:33:22.560 --> 00:33:23.860 or a tax collector. 00:33:24.300 --> 00:33:25.940 And what Jesus is simply doing there, 00:33:26.060 --> 00:33:31.420 he's appealing to the common Jewish understanding that Gentiles 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:33.820 and tax collectors were outsiders. 00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:40.800 So what basically Jesus is saying here is don't treat them as a disciple. 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:44.320 Don't call him brother anymore. 00:33:45.040 --> 00:33:46.519 Treat him as an outsider. 00:33:47.320 --> 00:33:52.900 The process has come to a point where this is the last step to take. 00:33:57.040 --> 00:33:59.880 If a member of our church, of Christ the King Church, 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:03.040 went through each step of this process without listening, 00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:08.559 we, the elders, would inform that person that she or she 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:11.440 was going to be removed from the membership of our church 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.500 at a certain point in time. 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.539 And at that point in time, 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:18.360 we would also announce to the membership 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.039 that this person was being removed. 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:22.960 So all of us are in the know at the same time. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:28.599 But even if this step is taken, 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:32.239 let's say we remove someone from our church 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:36.159 because they're not responding to appeals being made to them. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.039 They're not listening. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.959 We would do that, 00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:42.479 not in anger, 00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.559 not in spite. 00:34:45.779 --> 00:34:47.559 We would do that with a hope and prayer 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:50.419 that their removal would be the means of their awakening. 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.319 That God would even use that 00:34:53.319 --> 00:34:55.379 to bring them to their senses 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:58.000 and give them ears to hear. 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:03.820 These are the four steps that Jesus outlines for us 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.780 when we're sinned against. 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:07.740 It starts private and personal 00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:09.440 and it gets more public 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.960 with more people involved 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:12.539 each step of the way. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:16.019 This is the plan we're to stick to. 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:21.260 There's a couple things I want to just 00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:22.660 draw to your attention here. 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:27.159 This plan is a plan that calls sin, sin. 00:35:28.299 --> 00:35:29.899 It doesn't sugarcoat it. 00:35:30.799 --> 00:35:32.239 It doesn't whitewash it. 00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:34.639 It's because God's word 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:37.199 is saturating the process. 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:41.460 Not just in rebuking someone, 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:44.819 but the very outline of the process 00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:46.239 is from God's word. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:49.079 This plan is Bible saturated. 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.339 Another thing I want you to notice 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:53.500 is it's a restorative plan. 00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.720 It's full of grace 00:35:54.720 --> 00:35:56.820 every step along the way. 00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:59.420 It's like God through his people 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.400 are reaching out 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.200 and saying to a strange sheep, 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.200 come on back. 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.700 Come on back. 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.680 We want good for you. 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:10.539 It's a unifying plan. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.039 This plan gradually evolves 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:16.800 other Christians at the right time. 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:18.240 And so what happens is 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.740 it requires Christians 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.680 to work together 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:24.000 to humbly call each other 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.700 to holiness 00:36:24.700 --> 00:36:27.740 while maintaining a standard 00:36:27.740 --> 00:36:28.300 of holiness. 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:32.400 It's a unifying plan. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:34.140 We work together on it 00:36:34.140 --> 00:36:35.780 with the hope that God 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:37.380 will unite his people, 00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:39.539 bring this straying brother 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.160 back in. 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:42.900 It's a purifying plan. 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:45.280 The goal is to call 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:46.099 a brother or sister 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.880 out of their sin. 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.539 It's orderly, 00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:52.579 very clear steps. 00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:55.400 But I need to let you know 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:55.840 up front, 00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:57.599 this is a bittersweet plan 00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:59.039 and I think we all feel that 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:02.019 because this process 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:04.780 can result in separation 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:06.260 and awkwardness. 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:10.700 It's a plan that extends grace 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.599 and exposes hard-heartedness. 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:16.159 And there will be heartache 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.179 when you see people 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:18.139 digging their heels in. 00:37:20.399 --> 00:37:21.799 It's a bittersweet plan. 00:37:22.939 --> 00:37:24.659 But it's a commanded plan. 00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:28.079 Jesus tells us to go 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.059 again and again and again. 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.339 He tells us this is what 00:37:32.339 --> 00:37:32.799 we should do 00:37:32.799 --> 00:37:33.719 when we're sinned against. 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:36.299 He's saying stick to the plan. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:38.559 This is my plan of grace 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.519 for those who stray. 00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:44.759 Now, 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:47.980 as we stick to the plan, 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.719 you may be tempted 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.399 to fear, 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:54.099 to discouragement 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:56.339 because it's intimidating. 00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:58.399 It's kind of scary 00:37:58.399 --> 00:37:59.339 to confront somebody 00:37:59.339 --> 00:37:59.899 in their sin. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:02.939 And Jesus anticipates that 00:38:02.939 --> 00:38:05.179 in verses 18 through 20. 00:38:05.299 --> 00:38:05.639 And so, 00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:07.139 I want to show you, 00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.139 I want your heart 00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:08.919 to be encouraged 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.539 for what Jesus is calling us to 00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:13.000 by looking at the grace 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.200 that he has for you 00:38:14.200 --> 00:38:15.280 in this process. 00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.940 I want you to trust 00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:17.659 in his grace. 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.400 Remember who you are. 00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.579 Stick to his plan. 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:21.380 Now, 00:38:22.180 --> 00:38:23.380 with that plan laid out, 00:38:24.139 --> 00:38:25.119 trust in his grace. 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.920 Look at verse 18. 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:28.700 Truly, 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:29.460 I say to you, 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.820 whatever you bind on earth 00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.860 shall be bound in heaven 00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:33.539 and whatever you loose on earth 00:38:33.539 --> 00:38:34.900 shall be loosed in heaven. 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.000 Jesus is saying, 00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.579 you're authorized. 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:40.900 You're authorized to do this. 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.320 Each of you 00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:44.579 is authorized 00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.820 to take these steps. 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:47.659 And so, 00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:49.480 when a brother sins against you, 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.639 you are authorized 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:52.440 to go to that brother 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.920 and show him his fault. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:54.840 You're authorized 00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:55.820 by Jesus himself. 00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:58.400 And if he does not listen to you, 00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.240 you're authorized 00:38:59.240 --> 00:39:00.740 to talk to one or two other people 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:01.400 and bring them 00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:02.199 to talk to Jesus, 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:03.940 talk to this brother who sinned. 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.079 And if he listens, 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:06.300 you are authorized 00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:07.320 to go to the church 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:08.280 and have a conversation 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:08.920 with elders 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:10.000 of the church 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:11.340 about your sinning brother. 00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:12.139 You're authorized 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.079 to do that. 00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:15.219 And elders from the church 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:15.940 are authorized 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:17.000 to go to that brother 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:18.480 on behalf of what's going on 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:20.320 and explain what's going on 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:21.260 for the good of that brother. 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:23.019 We're authorized to do that. 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:25.119 And we're authorized 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:25.920 as a church 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:26.639 to put people 00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.460 out of our church 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.639 if they persist 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:29.719 in their unwillingness 00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:30.240 to listen. 00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:32.000 Jesus is saying, 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.179 you have the right 00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.000 to do this. 00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:35.219 You're authorized. 00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:37.179 You can bind 00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:38.079 and you can loose. 00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.920 And we're not just authorized. 00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:44.659 We're provisioned. 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:46.099 Look at verse 19. 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:48.039 Again, I say to you, 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:49.259 if two of you agree 00:39:49.259 --> 00:39:50.360 on earth about anything 00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:50.940 they ask, 00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:51.980 it will be done for them 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:53.199 by my Father in heaven. 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.460 Now, you might be sitting 00:39:54.460 --> 00:39:55.259 in your seat right now 00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:55.980 and say, seriously, 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.579 two of us, three, 00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.840 agreeing anything we ask? 00:39:59.139 --> 00:39:59.940 God will do that for us? 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:00.480 You know what? 00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:01.139 Hey, Jim, 00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.980 you want to lead your jet? 00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:02.820 I want to lead your jet. 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:04.820 Let's agree to ask 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.679 and God says 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:06.219 he's going to give us. 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:06.960 You know, I could use 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.559 a million dollars. 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.619 You need a million dollars? 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:09.820 Let's agree to ask 00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.619 and maybe God 00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.619 will give us a million dollars. 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:13.980 But context is key. 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.059 And so the question 00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:17.159 that you need to ask, 00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:18.179 I just want you to see, 00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:19.579 is Jesus is talking 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:21.699 about two people. 00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:24.559 Again, I say to you, 00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:25.619 if two of you agree 00:40:25.619 --> 00:40:26.679 on earth about anything 00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:27.299 they ask, 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:28.079 it will be done for them. 00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:29.360 When was the last time 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.920 you saw the word two 00:40:30.920 --> 00:40:31.940 used in this passage? 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.599 Look up at verse 16. 00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:37.079 But if he does not listen, 00:40:37.279 --> 00:40:38.820 take one or two others 00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:39.460 along with you 00:40:39.460 --> 00:40:40.159 that every charge 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:40.799 may be established 00:40:40.799 --> 00:40:41.460 by the evidence 00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.940 of two or three witnesses. 00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.820 Do you know what Jesus 00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:45.780 is talking about here? 00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:48.659 Being in the process. 00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:51.420 If you're one of the two 00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:52.340 in the process, 00:40:53.220 --> 00:40:55.880 you ask anything you need 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.720 and your father 00:40:56.720 --> 00:40:57.579 will give it to you 00:40:57.579 --> 00:40:59.200 because you're on his mission 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:01.380 to rescue a stray sheep. 00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:02.800 Ask anything. 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:08.059 So imagine that you are 00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:09.800 with one or two other Christians 00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:10.539 and you're outside 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.460 a brother's house 00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:13.000 who's not listened 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.900 to once already 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:15.619 and you're sitting in your car 00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.699 in front of their house 00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:17.800 and you're praying 00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.780 for things like this. 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:19.240 Oh God, 00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:21.000 would you give us 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:21.800 a tender heart 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:23.059 in how we communicate this? 00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:24.039 You got it. 00:41:25.860 --> 00:41:26.460 Oh Lord, 00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:27.320 give us clarity 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:28.679 as we bring God's word 00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.139 to bear 00:41:29.139 --> 00:41:30.699 and for our brother to see. 00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:31.639 You got it. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.559 You're provisioned. 00:41:34.679 --> 00:41:35.280 You got it. 00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:36.480 God's in it. 00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.500 He will give you 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:38.840 what you need for this. 00:41:38.840 --> 00:41:40.280 It's about him 00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:41.940 rescuing his sheep. 00:41:43.200 --> 00:41:44.519 You'll provide what you need. 00:41:45.539 --> 00:41:46.039 Gentleness, 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:46.960 patience. 00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:51.640 What's key to understand 00:41:51.640 --> 00:41:53.140 is that the context 00:41:53.140 --> 00:41:57.059 is rescuing a brother 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:58.059 from their sin. 00:42:01.600 --> 00:42:02.760 We've been authorized. 00:42:03.200 --> 00:42:04.220 We're provisioned 00:42:04.219 --> 00:42:05.699 and we're also 00:42:05.699 --> 00:42:06.819 accompanied. 00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:08.119 Look at verse 20. 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.959 For where two or three 00:42:10.959 --> 00:42:12.199 are gathered in my name, 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:15.179 there I am among them. 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:19.159 I am with you. 00:42:20.879 --> 00:42:21.519 Emmanuel. 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:25.239 You know what's really encouraging 00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:27.319 when you're involved 00:42:27.319 --> 00:42:28.459 in a process like this? 00:42:29.339 --> 00:42:31.199 Knowing that Jesus is with you. 00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:34.779 Again, context informs 00:42:34.779 --> 00:42:35.500 how we understand 00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.239 the two or three. 00:42:36.980 --> 00:42:38.000 It's the two or three 00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:39.839 involved in bringing 00:42:39.839 --> 00:42:41.879 sin to awareness 00:42:41.879 --> 00:42:42.619 of a brother. 00:42:43.139 --> 00:42:44.319 And what Jesus is saying there 00:42:44.319 --> 00:42:44.899 is, hey, 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:45.739 two or three, 00:42:45.879 --> 00:42:46.599 when you go, 00:42:46.819 --> 00:42:48.379 I am with you. 00:42:49.539 --> 00:42:50.859 I go with you. 00:42:50.939 --> 00:42:52.079 I'm with you in the car 00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:53.739 outside his front door 00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:54.759 when you're praying 00:42:54.759 --> 00:42:55.779 to go in. 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:56.859 I'm with you 00:42:56.859 --> 00:42:57.719 when you're with him 00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:59.059 around the table 00:42:59.059 --> 00:43:00.699 and you have your Bible open 00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:02.159 and you have a loving rebuke 00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:02.639 on your lips. 00:43:02.739 --> 00:43:03.619 I'm with you. 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:05.500 I am with you 00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:07.199 when you seek out 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:08.059 my sheep 00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:09.460 that are going astray. 00:43:10.859 --> 00:43:11.460 Grace 00:43:11.460 --> 00:43:12.859 upon grace 00:43:12.859 --> 00:43:14.299 upon grace 00:43:14.299 --> 00:43:16.019 for some hard work. 00:43:18.419 --> 00:43:19.539 Take courage. 00:43:20.460 --> 00:43:21.500 Stick to the plan. 00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:23.480 You're authorized. 00:43:24.019 --> 00:43:24.500 You're provisioned. 00:43:25.439 --> 00:43:27.359 And Jesus goes with you. 00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:29.420 So we don't need 00:43:29.420 --> 00:43:30.260 to shrink back 00:43:30.260 --> 00:43:31.019 from going to our 00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:31.900 brothers and sisters 00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:33.340 who have sinned against us. 00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.640 Here we have 00:43:37.640 --> 00:43:39.599 a little snapshot 00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:41.340 of the relational life 00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:42.039 of disciples 00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:42.700 in the kingdom. 00:43:44.200 --> 00:43:45.360 When sinned against, 00:43:45.780 --> 00:43:46.780 you go to the one 00:43:46.780 --> 00:43:47.800 who sinned against you. 00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.840 But before you go, 00:43:48.980 --> 00:43:50.160 you remember who you are, 00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:51.800 you stick to the plan, 00:43:52.120 --> 00:43:53.260 and you trust 00:43:53.260 --> 00:43:55.420 in God's grace. 00:43:55.420 --> 00:43:55.559 Jesus, 00:43:55.920 --> 00:43:57.800 you're not your own. 00:43:57.900 --> 00:43:58.980 You belong to Jesus. 00:43:59.200 --> 00:44:00.440 And it is no wonder 00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:02.340 that he's calling us 00:44:02.340 --> 00:44:03.200 to do something 00:44:03.200 --> 00:44:04.200 that he himself 00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:05.639 has already done for us. 00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:08.639 We sinned against him. 00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:10.599 But he didn't wait 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:11.619 for us to come to him. 00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:13.680 He came to us. 00:44:15.139 --> 00:44:16.800 And he showed us 00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:17.639 our sin 00:44:17.639 --> 00:44:19.720 to gain us. 00:44:19.719 --> 00:44:22.239 But God demonstrated 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:22.859 his own love 00:44:22.859 --> 00:44:23.480 towards us 00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:24.119 in that while 00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:25.559 we were yet sinners, 00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:27.919 Christ died for us. 00:44:28.879 --> 00:44:29.799 What do you do 00:44:29.799 --> 00:44:30.359 the next time 00:44:30.359 --> 00:44:31.059 a Christian sins 00:44:31.059 --> 00:44:31.659 against you? 00:44:31.919 --> 00:44:32.919 Remember who you are, 00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:34.079 stick to the plan, 00:44:34.739 --> 00:44:35.500 and trust 00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:37.839 in God's grace, 00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:39.559 and watch 00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:40.739 God 00:44:40.739 --> 00:44:41.739 work. 00:44:43.459 --> 00:44:44.319 Right now, 00:44:44.399 --> 00:44:45.219 let's tell you this. 00:44:45.739 --> 00:44:46.319 Would you take 00:44:46.319 --> 00:44:47.359 about 30 seconds 00:44:47.359 --> 00:44:48.259 right in your pew, 00:44:48.260 --> 00:44:50.000 and would you go 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:50.640 to the Lord 00:44:50.640 --> 00:44:52.180 and just ask him 00:44:52.180 --> 00:44:53.340 to examine you? 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:55.080 Just go before him 00:44:55.080 --> 00:44:55.400 and say, 00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:56.260 is there someone 00:44:56.260 --> 00:44:57.640 I need to step towards? 00:44:58.300 --> 00:44:59.400 Is there another step 00:44:59.400 --> 00:45:00.280 I need to take? 00:45:01.160 --> 00:45:02.400 And after that, 00:45:02.740 --> 00:45:04.100 we're going to observe 00:45:04.100 --> 00:45:05.180 the Lord's Supper together. 00:45:05.180 --> 00:45:05.300 Amen. 00:45:07.260 --> 00:45:07.780 Amen. 00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:08.260 Amen. 00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:08.380 Amen. 00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:08.460 Amen. 00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:08.540 Amen. 00:45:08.540 --> 00:45:08.580 Amen. 00:45:08.580 --> 00:45:08.600 Amen. 00:45:08.600 --> 00:45:08.640 Amen. 00:45:08.640 --> 00:45:08.720 Amen. 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:08.820 Amen. 00:45:08.820 --> 00:45:09.320 Amen. 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:09.380 Amen. 00:45:09.380 --> 00:45:09.480 Amen. 00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:09.520 Amen. 00:45:09.520 --> 00:45:09.540 Amen. 00:45:09.540 --> 00:45:09.620 Amen. 00:45:09.620 --> 00:45:09.760 Amen. 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.440 Amen. 00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:10.520 Amen. 00:45:10.520 --> 00:45:10.540 Amen.